11.   Their idea is for NATO to extend a friendly hand to Moscow so as to establish a privileged form of cooperation in defence matters.

12.   Xiong also met top army and air force officials to discuss regional geo-politics and defence matters, APP said.

13.   Kholodov, who reported on defence matters at the daily Moskovski Komsomolets, died of his injuries Monday.

14.   On foreign and defence matters, Hurd appeared to criticise the unilateral French intervention in Rwanda last year.

15.   Perry was also to meet Ukrainian Defence Minister Valery Shmarov, Foreign Minister Gennadi Udovenko and Vladimir Mukhin, head of a parliament commission on defence matters.

16.   The agreement will ease the transmission of information from the Atlantic alliance to the WEU, which is the only Europen body competent in defence matters.

17.   The agenda was expected to be dominated by discussions of joint defence matters, notably plans for a Mediterranean-based Euro-force, which also involves Spain.

18.   The Italian premier was also due to meet his French counterpart Edouard Balladur during the summit, which was expected to be dominated by discussions on joint defence matters.